Nageswaran Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns
of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Shiva in the guise of
Nagaraja, the serpent king and is located in the centre of Kumbakonam
Aditya Chola constructed this temple during the 9th century.
It is great marvel of Chola architecture, building technology and astronomy.
The orientation is structured in such a way that it allows sunlight inside the
temple, right on the sanctum only during the Tamil month of Chithirai
(April/May).
It bears another name called Surya Kottam or Keezha Kottam. The
Karuvarai(Sanctum Sanctorum) of Nageswaran temple is similar to Sarangapani
Temple, as it is made in the form of a Chariot. The temple consists of three
gopurams in the eastern, western and southern directions. There is a local
belief that the worship during morning, afternoon and evening needs to be
performed at the three Nageswaran temples namely Nageswaran Temple,
Tirunageswaram and Thirupampuram respectively. The temple is designed in such a
way that during the first three days of Tamil month Chittirai (April - May),
the rays of the Sun falls directly in the base of the presiding deity in
sanctum sanctorum.
This vast temple known is for its shrine of Rahu, one of the
nine celestial bodies in the Navagrahas.
A legend has it that the mythological
serpents Adiseshan, Dakshan and Kaarkotakan worshipped Lord Shiva here. Legend
also has it that King Nala worshipped Shiva here as in Thirunallar. There is a
Naganathar temple at Tirunageswaram having similar features like temple. This
place has been referred in Tevaram written by Saint Tamil poet of 7th Century
AD, Thirugnana Sambanthar.
The temple shows early Chola art in its best form
particularly in the form of human figures. The sanctum is of padabandha-padmaka
type stands on padmopana. The lotus leaves of the padmopano are carved with
vitality. In its iconographic scheme the Ardhanari, Brahma and Dakshinamoorthy
in the niches of the outer wall are featured. The other sculptures on the walls
almost life-size reflect either the donors to the temples or contemporary
princesses and princes. The epic scenes are in low relief on the plinth below
the pilasters of the walls of the sanctum, recalling the wood work.
The Devi shrine is an independent structure situated in the
outer prakaram(outer precincts of a temple), detached from the axial unit,
though it faces south, a feature common to Saiva Devin shrines. The complex of
Nataraja shrine is in the form of a chariot on wheel drawn by horses as in the
case of Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram and Sarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam.
Gangai Vinayagar
Image of Nataraja shrine depicted as chariot
During Rajendra Chola's Ganges expedition, the victorious
chola army brought a beautiful Vinayagar statue as a war trophy to the chola
empire. The Vinayagar statue was kept at this temple and was aptly named as
Gangai Vinayagar. Currently, the Vinayagar is present in the ardha mandapam, in
front of the sanctum of Nageswarar. The Vinayagar seems to be in the Pala
style.
Moolavar : Nageswarar,
Naganathar
Amman / Thayar : Periya
Nayaki
Thala Virutcham : Vilwa
Theertham : Maha
Magam Tank
Old year : 1000-2000
years old
Historical Name : Thirukudanthai
City : Tirunageswaram
District : Thanjavur
State : Tamil Nadu
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